Gaza Enters Phase 5 Famine as Humanitarian Crisis Escalates
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated to an unprecedented level, officially entering Phase 5 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the highest categorization of famine globally, reports 24brussels.
The Palestinian government has declared this situation a catastrophic escalation in an emergency that has already resulted in the loss of 289 lives due to starvation, including 115 children, amid an almost complete blockade of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine.
This declaration follows the latest IPC report indicating that over half a million individuals in Gaza are currently experiencing catastrophic conditions, which are characterized by starvation, acute malnutrition, and significantly high mortality rates. The famine is expected to extend into central and southern regions, including Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, potentially impacting 641,000 people by the end of September.
In response, Palestinian authorities have made an urgent appeal to the UN Security Council and other international entities, urging them to pressure their governments to terminate support for Israel and impose concrete sanctions in light of what they label as ongoing war crimes and a “man-made famine.”
The Israeli military blockade continues to obstruct crucial access points, preventing humanitarian convoys from reaching vulnerable populations. Following the breakdown of the ceasefire, hostilities have ramped up, disrupting aid deliveries systematically.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the situation, labeling it “a moral indictment and a failure of humanity itself.” He emphasized that famine is “not merely about food—it represents the calculated collapse of systems essential for human survival.”
The Palestinian Emergency Operations Room cautioned that hunger is spreading “like wildfire,” with rates of severe malnutrition escalating rapidly. The IPC has projected that 132,000 children under five are at risk of death from acute malnutrition by mid-2026, including 41,000 severe cases.
Since the onset of Israel’s military operations on October 7, 2023, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports a staggering 62,622 deaths, which includes individuals confirmed missing. Furthermore, at least 2,000 people have died trying to reach food aid, while 289 succumbed to starvation based on recent updates.
Humanitarian organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO) continue to demand an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, warning that a delay will lead to unacceptably high levels of famine-related deaths.
The IPC’s classification of famine in Gaza represents the first such declaration in the Middle East and is among only five globally since the IPC’s establishment in 2004. Experts indicate that this classification underscores the failure of food systems, surging costs, and intentional obstruction of aid.
As the crisis intensifies, the international community faces increasing pressure to take decisive action. The Palestinian government warns that without immediate intervention, the humanitarian disaster will only worsen.
